About

Cheri Locke, MA, LPC

Individual, Couples and Marriage Counseling

A little about me and how counseling became my saving grace and my passion

I experienced a significant trauma in my early childhood, but back then mental health was not something that was discussed like it is today. I went through my teen years struggling to overcome what happened and made some negative choices. As a young adult, I was still experiencing adverse effects from the trauma and from my poor decisions. I eventually found some peace and during that time I met a man that later became my husband. As I thought that my life was turning in a positive direction, I experienced postpartum depression after the birth of my first son. At the time, I did not know what was happening other than feeling like my life andrelationship were spiraling out of control. I had spent a whole year suffering in silence and soon after, our relationship hit a point where we separated. At that time I decided to reach out to a counselor. I began with individual counseling and I learned that I am the only person with power over me. Yes, I was a victim in my childhood, but I did not have to be a victim in adulthood. And man that is something very powerful to learn! She helped me open my eyes, my heart and my mind and every time I reflected back on our conversation, I realized that I was uncovering more of myself, which was scary! I was revealing something that I forever had been trying to hide from or bury. It was a place of finding empowerment and enlightenment. It was also the moment that I realized that I wanted at the very least to help an individual or a couple the way I had been helped. My saving grace became my passion. My husband also began therapy and I will be forever grateful to our therapist because without therapeutic intervention, I’m not sure where either of us would be. However, today we are happily married with two kids, three dogs, and a deeper understanding of ourselves. While sometimes we still hit a “few bumps” along the way we always remember the tools that we learned. I want my clients to walk away feeling that they have the tools to help themselves now and in the future.

Therapeutic Relationship

Therapy is a collaborative process between you and your therapist which is unique and personal. During the therapy process, you are sharing and exploring many aspects of your inner world, so trust is a critical element to the process. Individual counseling and couples counseling can be a powerful experience of self-discovery that can help you find many of the answers to your issues. I feel honored to be a part of the process with each of my clients. I provide a safe place for you to explore your life and help you on your journey to healing and change.

Therapeutic Approach

I implement evidence-based techniques, such as cognitive behavioral therapy and insight-oriented therapy for effective individual therapy or couples therapy. I differ my strategies for each client to ensure that I am providing the most effective care that will help you implement change.